FIFO inquiry recommendations 'gathering dust'

Queensland MP George Christensen has hit out at the Federal Government for not implementing recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers last year.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia handed down the findings of the inquiry in February.

The inquiry made 21 recommendations to lessen the impact of FIFO on regional communities.

Mr Christensen, the Member for Dawson in north Queensland, says nothing has been done since the report was handed down in February.

"All of these could have been done but they've just simply languished," he said.

"That's a great shame because this issue is important for a region like Mackay, where not only do we have fly-in, fly-out workers putting extra pressure on local services but a lot of people from Mackay engage in drive-in, drive-out work which puts pressure on their families."

He says he feels the committee's efforts have been wasted.

"We took 16 months to prepare this report, it cost over $1 million," he said.

"We talked to, and more importantly we listened to, communities - their expectations, their wants and needs as far as fly-in, fly-out, drive-in, drive-out work.

"We came up with 21 really worthwhile recommendations and so far it's just sat gathering dust on the Minister's shelf - simply not good enough."